AP Physics C - E & M

Inductance Problem Solving

Techniques
2018-08-12

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 Table of Contents:
Inductance Problem Solving
Techniques
Click on the topic to go to that section.

· Introduction

· Inductance Summary

· Inductor Current and Voltage

· RL Circuit 1

· RL Circuit 2
· Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
· RLC Circuit
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source, providing attribution and additional information.
Introduction

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 Introduction

This is not a typical unit presentation. There are no formative

assessment questions to test student knowledge.

Rather, comprehensive Inductance problems are solved, step

by step. Before going to the next step in the solution, you
should try to figure out what the step will be and work the
problem. There are questions in the presentation which you
should also attempt to answer before moving on.

These problems can be worked on your own, with a group of

students, or led by a teacher.
 Inductance Summary

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 Self Inductance
Self inductance is the EMF induced in a circuit by its own current
flow, and is used to define the value of the inductance
proportionality constant, L.

The voltage drop across an inductor, EL, is called the self induced
or back EMF, and is a property of the geometry of the loop.

L measures the resistance of a circuit to a change in current. As

the current changes, the circuit generates a magnetic field that
creates the back EMF, opposing the applied EMF, thereby
reducing the rate of current change.
 Self Inductance

The inductor is a circuit element where the self inductance is

increased by multiple concentric loops of wire and is indicated by
this symbol:

The inductor stores energy in its created magnetic field:

The unit of inductance is the Henry, 1 H = 1 Wb/A.

Electric Potential Difference in an Inductor
L
a i b

When the current is increasing through an inductor, the electric

potential difference between points (a) and (b) is positive:

When the current is decreasing, the potential difference is negative:

When the current is constant, there is zero potential difference.

 RL Circuits
An RL circuit contains a battery, resistor and an inductor. When
switch S is closed, there is initially zero current, as the inductor acts
to oppose the change in current.

R L

Time constant:
 RL Circuit Discharge
If an inductor is connected to an EMF source for a long period of
time (t > 10τ), it has zero resistance to current flow. The current is
at a maximum and is constant. The electric potential difference
across it is zero.

When it is disconnected from the EMF, the current behaves as

shown below.

R L

S
a b
 LC Circuits
Start with a capacitor with charge Q, in a series circuit with an
inductor and an open switch - an LC circuit. The energy of this
circuit is stored within the electric field of the capacitor.

Close the switch. Initially, the current is zero as the inductor's back
EMF acts to oppose the current flow. It then increases as the
capacitor discharges.
 LC Circuits
The electric field (and its energy) in the capacitor is decreasing as
the magnetic field and its energy increases in the inductor.

The current first flows counter-clockwise, then clockwise and

oscillates (assuming no resistive heating losses) with an angular
frequency, ω. The total energy remains constant, and moves
between storage in the magnetic field of the inductor and the
electric field in the capacitor.

The behavior of the LC circuit is

analogous to the simple harmonic
motion of the mass spring system.
 RLC Circuit Discharge
The circuit behavior resembles an RL circuit, but the resistor will
cause the oscillations of the magnetic field and electric field
energy's to decrease to zero after time. The charge on the
capacitor will also oscillate as shown - a sine/cosine function
overlaid by an exponential decay curve.
Qmax

0 t
 Inductor Current and
Voltage

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 Inductor Current and Voltage
An inductor has inductance L = 0.43 H and carries an electric current
in the direction shown on the diagram. The current varies with time at
a constant rate. The electric potential difference between points (b)
and (a) is 0.78 V.
a. Which point, (a) or (b), has the higher electric potential?
Explain.
b. Is the current increasing or decreasing? Explain.
c. If the current at t = 0 s is 1.8 A, what is the current at t = 1.5 s?
 Inductor Current and Voltage
a. Which point, (a) or (b), has the higher electric potential?
Explain.
The electric potential difference for an inductor is
defined as the voltage at the conventional current
entrance to the inductor minus the voltage at the
exit; in this case, Vb - Va.
Since the potential difference is 0.78 V, the
voltage at point (b) must be higher than the
voltage at point (a).
 Inductor Current and Voltage
b. Is the current increasing or decreasing? Explain.

Vb - Va and L are positive values, therefore the

change in current over time, di/dt, is also positive.
The current is increasing.
 Inductor Current and Voltage
c. If the current at t = 0 s is 1.8 A, what is the current at t = 1.5 s?

Current increasing
at constant rate.

The current increased which

is consistent with the first
two parts of this problem.
 RL Circuit 1

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 RL Circuit 1
In the circuit below, Ɛ = 9.0 V, R = 31 Ω and L = 0.20 H. Initially, there
is no current in the circuit and the switch is open.
a. Just after the switch is closed, what is the voltage drop across
the resistor and the inductor?
b. The switch is closed for a long time (t > 10τ), what is the voltage
drop across the resistor and the inductor?
c. What is the current in the circuit when equilibrium is reached?
d. How much energy is stored in the inductor's magnetic field when
equilibrium is reached?
 RL Circuit 1
a. Just after the switch is closed, what is the voltage drop across
the resistor and the inductor?

Immediately after the switch is closed,

the inductor acts to resist the change in
the current:
 RL Circuit 1
b. The switch is closed for a long time (t > 10τ), what is the voltage
drop across the resistor and the inductor?

After a long time, the current is constant

and equal to ε/R. Since the current is
constant, there is no voltage drop
across the inductor.
 RL Circuit 1
c. What is the current in the circuit when equilibrium is reached?

Equilibrium is reached after a long time

when t > 10τ, which is mathematically
approximated as t = ∞.
 RL Circuit 1
d. How much energy is stored in the inductor's magnetic field when
equilibrium is reached?
 RL Circuit 2

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 RL Circuit 2
In the circuit below, ε = 15 V, R = 120 Ω, and L = 0.24 H. Initially,
switch 2 is open and switch 1 is closed until a steady current is
reached. Then at time t = t1, switch 1 is opened and switch 2 is
closed.
a. What is the current in the resistor at time t1?
b. What is the voltage drop across the resistor at time t1?
c. What is the current in the resistor at time, t = 1.0 x 10-3 s?
d. What is the voltage drop across the resistor at t = 1 x 10-3 s?
e. How long will it take the current to decrease to half its initial
value?
 RL Circuit 2
a. What is the current in the resistor at time t1?

When S1 was closed for a long time, the

circuit reached equilibrium and the
current through the circuit was:

S1 is opened, taking the battery out of

the circuit, and S2 is closed, creating a
circuit with just the inductor and the
resistor. Presumably a make before
break switching apparatus was used so
the current wouldn't just stop.
 RL Circuit 2
a. What is the current in the resistor at time t1 (cont)?

The inductor opposes the change in

current, so the initial current will be the
same as the equilibrium current:
 RL Circuit 2
b. What is the voltage drop across the resistor at time t1?
 RL Circuit 2
c. What is the current in the resistor at time, t = 1.0 x 10-3 s?

Use the equation for the discharge of

an inductor. When the battery is
disconnected, the inductor acts to
maintain the current, until the stored
energy in its magnetic field decreases
to zero.
 RL Circuit 2
d. What is the voltage drop across the resistor at t = 1 x 10-3 s?
 RL Circuit 2
e. How long will it take the current to decrease to half its initial
value?

Use the equation for the discharge of

an inductor.
 Capacitor and Inductor
Substitution

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 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
In the below circuit, the switch has been closed for a long time.

a. Determine the current supplied by the battery.

A 9.0 μF capacitor is connected to the circuit between points
(a) and (b), and the circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
b. Determine the current flowing through point A.
c. What is the charge on the capacitor?
The capacitor is replaced with a 3.5 mH inductor, and the
circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
d. Determine the current flowing through the inductor.
e. What is the energy stored in the inductor?

You may assume 2 significant

figures for all values.
 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
a. Determine the total current supplied by the battery.
Find the equivalent resistance of the
circuit, then divide the battery voltage by
Req to find the current.
 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
A 9.0 μF capacitor is connected to the circuit between points
(a) and (b), and the circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
b. Determine the current flowing through point A.
The total current from the battery:

After a long time, the capacitor does not

pass any current - so the resistors on the A
line are in parallel with the resistors on the
B line. The equivalent resistance of both
lines is the same. So, they split the total
current:
 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
A 9.0 μF capacitor is connected to the circuit between points
(a) and (b), and the circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
c. What is the charge on the capacitor?

The definition of capacitance:

Find ΔVBA, by finding the voltage drops

across the circled 3 Ω and 9 Ω resistors,
and taking their difference. The battery
voltage cancels out during that operation.
 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
A 9.0 μF capacitor is connected to the circuit between points
(a) and (b), and the circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
c. What is the charge on the capacitor (cont)?

We used VBA to get a positive value of Q. It doesn't

really matter, as one side of the capacitor is +Q and the
other is -Q.
 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
The capacitor is replaced with a 3.5 mH inductor, and the
circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
d. Determine the current flowing through the inductor.

After a long period of time, there is zero

potential difference between the ends of
the inductor.
That enables us to look at points (A)
and (B) as if they are one, and calculate
a new equivalent resistance for the
circuit.
Think how you would do that before
moving on to the next slide.
 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
The capacitor is replaced with a 3.5 mH inductor, and the
circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
d. Determine the current flowing through the inductor (cont).

30 V The original configuration is changed

2.8 Ω to having two groups of resistors in
parallel, I and II. Resolve each
3.0 Ω parallel group, and then we have one
II 3.0 Ω I real resistor (2.8 Ω) and two virtual
resistors in series:
9.0 Ω 9.0 Ω

Points (A) and (B)

are at the center of
the X.
 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
The capacitor is replaced with a 3.5 mH inductor, and the
circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
d. Determine the current flowing through the inductor (cont).

30 V Find the new total current in the circuit:

2.8 Ω

3.0 Ω I
II 3.0 Ω
Find the voltage drop across
configurations I and II.
9.0 Ω 9.0 Ω

keep extra significant figures

until the end of the problem.
 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
The capacitor is replaced with a 3.5 mH inductor, and the
circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
d. Determine the current flowing through the inductor (cont).

30 V Find the currents through the 3 Ω and

2.8 Ω 9 Ω resistors in either configuration:

3.0 Ω I
II 3.0 Ω

9.0 Ω 9.0 Ω

Final step - go back to the

original circuit diagram.
 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
The capacitor is replaced with a 3.5 mH inductor, and the
circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
d. Determine the current flowing through the inductor (cont).

Label the resistors

with the current going
through them.
Look at point B - can
Kirchoff's junction rule
be applied here to
solve this problem?
 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
The capacitor is replaced with a 3.5 mH inductor, and the
circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
d. Determine the current flowing through the inductor (cont).

Yes! Choose the current

through the inductor in the up
direction (somewhat arbitrary,
but if we chose wrong, we'll
get a negative IBA).
 Capacitor and Inductor Substitution
The capacitor is replaced with a 3.5 mH inductor, and the
circuit is allowed to come to equilibrium.
e. What is the energy stored in the inductor?
 RLC Circuit

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 RLC Circuit
In the circuit below, the switch is initially open, all currents are zero
and the capacitor is uncharged.
a. Determine the current and voltage distribution in each part of the
circuit immediately after the switch is closed.
b. Determine the current and voltage distribution in each part of the
circuit after the switch is closed for a long time.
c. Determine the charge and energy stored on the capacitor and
energy stored in the inductor after the switch is closed for a long
time.
d. Sketch voltage as a function of time across the capacitor, and
the current as a function of time in the inductor, after the switch is
closed. Label asymptotes.
 RLC Circuit
a. Determine the current and voltage distribution in each part of the
circuit immediately after the switch is closed.

When the switch is closed, the inductor

resists the change in current, so no
current flows through the inductor.
The maximum current flows through
the capacitor.
The current path is shown in red.
 RLC Circuit
a. Determine the current and voltage distribution in each part of the
circuit immediately after the switch is closed (cont).

The current through the 40 Ω resistor

and the capacitor is:

The voltage drop across the 40 Ω

resistor is 60 V, as the resistance of
the capacitor is zero.
All other circuit elements have zero
current and zero voltage drop.
 RLC Circuit
a. Determine the current and voltage distribution in each part of the
circuit immediately after the switch is closed (cont).
 RLC Circuit
b. Determine the current and voltage distribution in each part of the
circuit after the switch is closed for a long time.

When the switch is closed for a long

time, the inductor has no voltage drop,
and does not oppose the current flow.
The voltage drop across the 30 Ω
resistor, the 60 Ω resistor and the
capacitor will be the same as they are
in parallel.
The capacitor does not let any current
pass through it.
The current path is shown in red.
 RLC Circuit
b. Determine the current and voltage distribution in each part of the
circuit after the switch is closed for a long time (cont).

Find the equivalent resistance of the

circuit and then the current coming out
of the battery.
 RLC Circuit
b. Determine the current and voltage distribution in each part of the
circuit after the switch is closed for a long time (cont).

All of the current flows through the 40 Ω

resistor and its voltage drop is:

This leaves a voltage drop of (60 - 40) V =

20 V across the parallel combination of
the 30 Ω resistor, 60 Ω resistor, and the
capacitor.
 RLC Circuit
b. Determine the current and voltage distribution in each part of the
circuit after the switch is closed for a long time (cont).

The current through the parallel circuit

elements is then:

It's good that the

currents in the
parallel segments
add up to the total
current of 1 A.
 RLC Circuit
b. Determine the current and voltage distribution in each part of the
circuit after the switch is closed for a long time (cont).
 RLC Circuit
c. Determine the charge, and energy stored on the capacitor and
the energy stored in the inductor after the switch is closed for a long
time.
 RLC Circuit
d. Sketch voltage as a function of time across the capacitor, and the
current as a function of time in the inductor, after the switch is
closed. Label asymptotes.

VC

20 V

t
 RLC Circuit
d. Sketch voltage as a function of time across the capacitor, and the
current as a function of time in the inductor, after the switch is
closed. Label asymptotes.

IL

0.33A